Star Wars actor Mark Hamill is championing the Wild Atlantic Way as the perfect place to escape the Dark Side.
The actor has starred in a new tourism video to showcase the best features on the west coast, including Fanad Lighthouse in Co. Donegal.
Hamill has already complimented Donegal greatly during his promotional tour for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
This latest video is a sci-fi themed celebration of Ireland’s connections to Star Wars that showcases holidays on the Wild Atlantic Way.
At the end of the film, Mark Hamill addresses viewers, saying: “Escape the dark side along Earth’s Wild Atlantic Way – the perfect place to get away from it all”.
It’s filmed using the trademark Star Wars screen-wipe transitions (where one shot replaces another by moving from one side of the frame to another) and sound effects – which Star Wars fans around the globe will recognise.
From the craggy summit of Skellig Michael to Ireland’s most northerly tip, Malin Head, key locations were handpicked by Star Wars location scouts to represent Ahch-to – the oceanic planet which became home to an exiled Luke Skywalker. Tourism Ireland intends to leverage the huge global popularity of Star Wars for Irish tourism once again.
“The fact that another Star Wars film was shot on location along the Wild Atlantic Way is truly a fantastic coup for Irish tourism,” said Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland.
“The Last Jedi is bringing our magnificent scenery to the attention of millions of people around the world. It’s a fantastic way to significantly boost awareness of the Wild Atlantic Way – and Ireland in general – and presents Tourism Ireland with a superb opportunity to highlight Ireland in 2018.”
Tourism Ireland’s promotional campaign will roll out in 15 markets around the world and across social media. They will launch the next phase of the Star Wars campaign on 27 December, targeting fans of the science fiction franchise everywhere.
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